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Geyserville Grapevine by deTraci Regula - April 2017

Geyserville won’t be quite the same in the early mornings. It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of

Jim was born in Japan in 1950 to a U.S. serviceman father and Japanese mother. They moved in 1952 to the United States, where his brothers and sisters were born. Fearing that his health was declining in the last couple of years, he was urged by many to seek medical care but he put it off as he did not have insurance and decided to wait until he would get Social Security. At 65, he discovered he did not qualify because his parents did not file a necessary piece of paper called the Consular Report of Foreign Birth for Jim, launching a fruitless year and a half quest to remedy this lack of original paperwork. He eventually engaged a lawyer but his health situation had caught up with him in the meantime. When he finally went to the emergency room, he was diagnosed with inoperable Stage 4 lung cancer. He quickly dismissed the idea of treatment as even with radiation and chemotherapy, they gave him only a 1-5 chance of living a year. He faced the diagnosis calmly, saying that “I’m ready to go, but I’m also open to a miracle.” From his spiritual studies, he was a firm believer in reincarnation and chatted with visitors on the subject of what he might be able to come back as. Perhaps he had an inkling because he asked our volunteer Haley Murphy to take a series of portraits of him and his dog Sumo last June, one of which is shown here. This was unusual as Jim never put himself forward for special attention, but we are so very glad to have such wonderful images of him now.

On returning from the hospital, he entered immediately into at-home hospice care, and passed away here at Isis Oasis Sanctuary during the early hours of the morning on Thursday, February 23rd. His last day was an exceptionally upbeat and happy one where Jim seemed more like his usual self and we hoped for more such days to follow. Sadly, this was not to be. He is survived by his son Jorma, daughter Shaleen, sisters Christie and Judy, brothers Joe and Alfred, his mother, Kimiko Teed, and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many friends. We give thanks and blessings here for the many volunteers and friends who assisted and visited here in these last weeks and for the loving support of his family. Services were held in the church at Isis Oasis Sanctuary with music provided by his friend Cowboy Kent, and another observance will be offered during our annual Symposium the weekend of May 4th-7th.

Foodie Moment of the Month

On lighter subjects, the “Foodie Moment of the Month” this time definitely goes toCatelli’s, where I was lucky enough to order an off-menu lunchtime special – a delicious roast beef sandwich with a sumptuous marsala mushroom dipping sauce. If you were as devastated as I was by the recent removal of the fabulous French Dip Sandwich from Cousteau’s menu in Healdsburg, Catelli’s has graciously stepped in to fill the gap. And yes, I’m mentioning it now because I am fervently hoping that it might become a regular menu item here. Help me out and go and ask for it!

And another potential “foodie moment of the month” is coming on Sunday, April 2nd when theOriental Community Hall at 1000 Highway 128 – just past the bridge over the Russian River as you go east on 128 from downtown Geyserville – holds its annual fundraising breakfast of biscuits and gravy. Proceeds will benefit the Geyserville Scholarship Fund for graduating seniors and will contribute to maintenance and upkeep of the hall itself. Advance tickets are $9 for adults and $4 for kids, or $10 and $5 for day-of ticket purchases. Breakfast includes biscuits and gravy, eggs, fruit salad, coffee and orange juice. More “adult beverages” such as mimosas, bloody marys and gin fizzes are available at extra cost.

If you have any Geyserville news to share!...write to me at the email above.

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